(BLOOMINGTON) - NAMI-Greater Bloomington Area (NAMI-GBA) will sponsor a free panel discussion on Wednesday, October 8 at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Church located at 2420 E 3rd Street in Bloomington.

This informative event will shed light on the benefits of the collaborative care model, an evidence-based practice intended to integrate and coordinate behavioral and primary healthcare for individuals living with serious mental illness.

Panel members will include Tara Mendoza, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner with the Unity Medical Clinic, Maren Sheese, LCSW, LCAC, CHW, Director of the BE Well Program of Centerstone Indiana, and Londa Vautaw, RN, CLNC, Complex Case Manager with MDWise, Inc.

"Research shows people with a severe mental illness live anywhere from eight to 25 years less than the rest of the population," said John Isbell, CRS, MLS, Ph.D., Vice President of the local NAMI affiliate and Rehabilitation Specialist with the BE Well Program of Centerstone Indiana . "Integrated care, which helps focus on physical health for those living with chronic mental illnesses, is designed to help address that disparity" said Isbell.

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. At the national, state, and local levels, NAMI is committed to providing support for families in need, providing education for the public about the biological nature of these disorders, and supporting research and advocacy to improve the lives of those with severe mental illness.